Fluid motor



E. c" HORTON Feb. 4, 1936.

FLUID MOTOR Filed June 15, 1955 l z r Patented -Feb. 4, 1936 PATENT o FFicE FLUID MOTOR Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

' Application June 15, 1933, Serial No. 676,006

3 Claims.

T'his invention relates to iluid motors and it has particular relation to the turbine type of fluid motor operated by means of fluid in jet form directed thereon.

One object of the invention is to provide an automatically regulated iluid motor that provides substantially uniform motor speed regardless of changes in intensity of the motive power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid motor which is responsive to changes in differential iluid pressure to regulate automatically the speed of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid motor in which actuating fluid is applied successively from different points as the intensity of fluid pressure differential varies within predetermined limits.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a fluid motor;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken substantially along the line II-II of Fig. l, and illustrating the normal position of the operating parts of the motor.

Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the parts of the motor in a position they assume under abnormal operating conditions; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section of a nozzle for directing a jet of fluid to voperate the motor.

The invention is embodied in a iluid motor I of the turbine type which comprises casing sections II, I2 and I3 and a rotor I5 having a bearing support I6 for its shaft I1 in the wall of the section II. The casing sections are assembled in fluid tight relation by means of suitable fastening devices I8. Blades I9 of the rotor extend integrally at right angles from one side of a rotor disk and are arranged in a circumferential row adjacent the outer circumferential face portion of the disk. 'I'he rotor shaft I1 is adapted to drive various elements, such as fans, windshield cleaners, motors, or other devices employed in conjunction with internal combustion engines and the like.

An intermediate portion of the casing section I2 is cupped or bent to form an annular recess 22, the bottom or central portion of which is provided with a relatively narrow annular flange 23 defining an opening 25. A coiled spring 2B has one of its ends anchored about the flange 23 in the recess 22 and its other end disposed in a cup or-socket 21 that is secured against one side of a diaphragm 28 by means of a valve stem 29 extending through the cup and diaphragm and through a washer 30 opposed to the cup on the opposite side of the diaphragm. The outer edges of the diaphragm are clamped in fluid tight relation against the surface of the casing section I2 around the b-orders on the recess 22 by means of a ring 32 having suitable fastening devices 33. 5 .Thus the casing sections I I and I2 provide a chamber 35 for receiving the rotor, and the diaphragm is subject to the fluid pressure conditions in the chamber by reason of the direct fluid communication through the opening 25 to one side 10 of the diaphragm.

The valve stem 29 is slidably mounted in a spider bearing 36 and its outer end carries a valve 31 normally seated upon an annular seat V38. This valve provides communication with the 15 atmosphere from a chamber 39 formed by the casing sections I2 and I3 and diaphragm 28. Movement of the diaphragm 28 under the iniluence of fluid pressure differential determines the operation of the Valve. The seat 38 defines an 20 opening 40 leading into the chamber 39 and normally closed by the valve.

A primary nozzle 59 mounted in the casing section I2 communicates With the atmosphere and is directed against or toward the blades I9 of the 25 rotor. .A secondary nozzle 52 mounted in the same casing section I2 provides communication between the chambers 39 and 35. A'fluid conveying connection 53 is connected in the wall of the casing section II and it is adapted to be in 30 communication with a suitable fluid exhausting apparatus, such as the intake manifold 54 of the internal combustion engine of the Vehicle.

It is to be observed that the internal diameter of the connection 53 is considerably larger than 35 the combined internal diameters of the nozzles and 52, or larger than twice the diameter of either of them. 'f'

The diaphragm 28 is responsive to the low pressure in the intake manifold. Herein, the 40 diaphragm is indirectly responsive to such low pressure through the rotor'chamber 35.

In operating the motor I0, fluid is exhausted from the chamber 35 through the conduit connection 53 and fluid under the influence of at- 45 mospheric pressure is forced through the nozzle 50 in the form of jet that impinges upon the blades I9 of the rotor to rotate the latter. Under normal operating conditions the fluid is ex- I hausted from the chamber 35 at such rate that 50 the fluid pressure differential maintains the valve 31 closed against the compression of the spring 26. Since the internal diameter of the fluid connection 53 is greater than `the combined diameters of the nozzles 50 and 52, it is apparent that 55 the pressure inside the chamber 35 is considerably reduced during the normal operation of the motor, that is, the diaphragm 31 is subjected to a relatively high fluid pressure differential. In the event the suction for exhausting fluid from the chamber 35 is lessened, for example, when the suction is provided from the suction side of an internal combustion engine which Varies considerably according to the acceleration of such engine, then the increased pressure in the chamber 35, or the reducing of the fluid pressure differential tending to be .equalized with atmospheric pressure, reduces the compression of the spring 26 and the valve 31 is then opened. The cup is limited in its outward movement by abutting the inner side of the spider bearing 36. Additional air under atmospheric pressure is thus admitted through the valve 31 and nozzle 52 for injection in the form of fluid jet against the rotor blades I9. Thus at lower internal pressures in the casings or reduced fluid pressure differential, two jets of fluid are directed against the blades I9 at substantially diametrically opposite positions of the rotor for increasing its efficiency under `these conditions. As soon as the fluid again is exhausted more rapidly from the chamber/35 the increased differential fluid pressure closes the valve 31 and then only one nozzle 50 supplies a fluid jet for operating the rotor.

It is of course to be understood that the nozzle of larger internal diameter than the nozzle 50 or 52 can be employed for creating a greater power under normal conditions of operation.

However, the sizes of the nozzles 50 and 52 are not selected for the purpose of obtaining the greatest power possible at maximum fluid pressure differential, but the greater uniform and average power within reasonable limits. 'Ihis kind of arrangement, therefore, prevents excessively rapid rotation of the rotor at maximumy rate of exhaustion of fluid from the chamber 31 and likewise prevents excessively slow rotation oi the rotor at minimum rate of fluid exhaustion.

While only two nozzles 50 and 52 are shown, it is apparent that a greater number can be employed in substantially the same manner to provide a more refined graduation of successive applications of jets of fluid to the rotor as the pressure differential decreases from the condition of maximum exhaustion of air from the chamber Although only the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described in-detail,

\ normally closed against communication with the atmosphere by said valve, said diaphragm being responsive to changes in pressure in said region of fluid under variable sub-atmospheric pressure to open the valve whereby atmospheric air is directed against the rotor through the second nozzle.

2. A fluid motor comprising a casing, a region of fluid under variable sub-atmospheric pressure communicating with said casing, a rotor journalled in the casing, a partition including a diaphragm dividing the casing into a rotor chamber and a supplemental chamber, a valve having a connection with the diaphragm, said valve communicating between the supplemental chamber and the atmosphere, an air-supplying nozzle communicating with the atmosphere and extending into said rotor chamber to direct atmospheric air against said rotor, and a second nozzle in the partition normally closed against communication with the atmosphere by said valve, and communicating between said chambers, said diaphragm being responsive to changes in pressure in said region of fluid under variable sub-atmospheric pressure to open the valve whereby atmospheric air is admittedj to the supplemental chamber and is directed against the rotor through the second nozzle.

3. A fluid motor having a turbine chamber, a rotor journaled in the chamber, a nozzle in communication with a region of fluid pressure establishing fluid pressure differential for directing a jet of fluid against the rotor in rotating the latter, said chamber having a discharge opening, a second nozzle having communication with said region for directing a supplementing second jet of fluid against the rotor in rotating the latter, a valve to control the flow of fluid through the second nozzle, means having communication on its one side with said chamber and on its opposite side with said region and operable by the fluid pressure differential acting thereon to close the valve within predetermined pressure values, and means acting to open the valve against the pressure differential when the latter decreases below a predetermined value.

ERWIN C. HORTON. 

